by The tutorial explains how to use COUNTIFS and COUNTIF formulas with multiple criteria in Excel based on AND as well as OR logic. You will find a number of examples for different data types - numbers, dates, text, wildcard characters, non-blank cells and more.
Of all Excel functions, COUNTIFS and COUNTIF are probably most often mixed up because they look very much alike and both are purposed for counting cells based on the specified criteria.
The difference is that COUNTIF is designed for counting cells with a single condition in one range, whereas COUNTIFS can evaluate different criteria in the same or in different ranges. The aim of this tutorial is to demonstrate different approaches and help you choose the most efficient formula for each particular task.
Excel COUNTIFS function - syntax and usage
The Excel COUNTIFS function counts cells across multiple ranges based on one or several conditions. The function is available in Excel 365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, Excel 2010, and Excel 2007, so you can use the below examples in any Excel version.
COUNTIFS syntax
The syntax of the COUNTIFS function is as follows:
- criteria_range1 (required) - defines the first range to which the first condition (criteria1) shall be applied.
- criteria1 (required) - sets the condition in the form of a number, cell reference, text string, expression or another Excel function. The criteria defines which cells shall be counted and can be expressed as 10, "<=32", A6, "sweets".
- [criteria_range2, criteria2]… (optional) - these are additional ranges and their associated criteria. You can specify up to 127 range/criteria pairs in your formulas.
In fact, you don't have to remember the syntax of the COUNTIF function by heart. Microsoft Excel will display the function's arguments as soon as you start typing; the argument you are entering at the moment is highlighted in bold.
Excel COUNTIFS - things to remember!
- You can use the COUNTIFS function in Excel to count cells in a single range with a single condition as well as in multiple ranges with multiple conditions. If the latter, only those cells that meet all of the specified conditions are counted.
- Each additional range must have the same number of rows and columns as the first range (criteria_range1 argument).
- Both contiguous and non-contiguous ranges are allowed.
- If the criteria is a reference to an empty cell, the COUNTIFS function treats it as a zero value (0).
- You can use the wildcard characters in criteria - asterisk (*) and question mark (?). See this example for full details.
How to use COUNTIFS and COUNTIF with multiple criteria in Excel
Below you will find a number of formula examples that demonstrate how to use the COUNTIFS and COUNTIF functions in Excel to evaluate multiple conditions.
How to count cells with multiple criteria (AND logic)
This scenario is the easiest one, since the COUNTIFS function in Excel is designed to count only those cells for which all of the specified conditions are TRUE. We call it the AND logic, because Excel's AND function works this way.
Formula 1. COUNTIFS formula with multiple criteria
Suppose you have a product list like shown in the screenshot below. You want to get a count of items that are in stock (value in column B is greater than 0) but have not been sold yet (value is column C is equal to 0).
The task can be accomplished by using this formula:
=COUNTIFS(B2:B7,">0", C2:C7,"=0")
And the count is 2 ("Cherries" and "Lemons"):
Formula 2. COUNTIFS formula with two criteria
When you want to count items with identical criteria, you still need to supply each criteria_range / criteria pair individually.
For example, here's the right formula to count items that have 0 both in column B and column C:
=COUNTIFS($B$2:$B$7,"=0", $C$2:$C$7,"=0")
This COUNTIFS formula returns 1 because only "Grapes" have "0" value in both columns.
Using a simpler formula with a single criteria_range like COUNTIFS(B2:C7,"=0") would yield a different result - the total count of cells in the range B2:C7 containing a zero (which is 4 in this example).
How to count cells with multiple criteria (OR logic)
As you have seen in the above examples, counting cells that meet all of the specified criteria is easy because the COUNTIFS function is designed to work this way.
But what if you want to count cells for which at least one of the specified conditions is TRUE, i.e. based on the OR logic? Overall, there are two ways to do this - by adding up several COUNTIF formulas or using a SUM COUNTIFS formula with an array constant.
Formula 1. Add up two or more COUNTIF or COUNITFS formulas
In the table below, supposing you want to count orders with the "Cancelled" and "Pending" status. To have it doen, you can simply write 2 regular Countif formulas and add up the results:
=COUNTIF($C$2:$C$11,"Cancelled") + COUNTIF($C$2:$C$11,"Pending")
In case each of the functions is supposed to evaluate more than one condition, use COUNTIFS instead of COUNTIF. For example, to get the count of "Cancelled" and "Pending" orders for "Apples" use this formula:
=COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$11, "Apples", $C$2:$C$11,"Cancelled") + COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$11, "Apples", $C$2:$C$11,"Pending")
Formula 2. SUM COUNTIFS with an array constant
In situations when you have to evaluate a lot of criteria, the above approach is not the best way to go because your formula would grow too big in size. To perform the same calculations in a more compact formula, list all of your criteria in an array constant, and supply that array to the criteria argument of the COUNTIFS function. To get the total count, embed COUNTIFS inside the SUM function, like this:
In our sample table, to count orders with the status "Cancelled" or "Pending" or "In transit", the formula would go as follows:
=SUM(COUNTIFS($C$2:$C$11, {"cancelled", "pending", "in transit"}))
In a similar manner, you can count cells based on two or more criteria_range / criteria pairs. For instance, to get the number of "Apples" orders that are "Cancelled" or "Pending" or "In transit", use this formula:
=SUM(COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$11,"apples",$C$2:$C$11,{"cancelled","pending","in transit"}))
You can find a few more ways to count cells with OR logic in this tutorial: Excel COUNTIF and COUNTIFS with OR conditions.
How to count numbers between 2 specified numbers
By and large, COUNTIFS formulas for numbers fall into 2 categories - based on several conditions (explained in the above examples) and between the two values you specify. The latter can be accomplished in two ways - by using the COUNTIFS function or by subtracting one COUNTIF from another.
Formula 1. COUNTIFS to count cells between two numbers
To find out how many numbers between 5 and 10 (not including 5 and 10) are contained in cells C2 through C10, use this formula:
=COUNTIFS(C2:C10,">5", C2:C10,"<10")
To include 5 and 10 in the count, use the "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" operators:
=COUNTIFS(B2:B10,">=5", B2:B10,"<=10")
Formula 2. COUNTIF formulas to count numbers between X and Y
The same result can be achieved by subtracting one Countif formula from another. The first one counts how many numbers are greater than the lower bound value (5 in this example). The second formula returns the count of numbers that are greater than the upper bound value (10 in this case). The difference between the first and second number is the result you are looking for.
- =COUNTIF(C2:C10,">5")-COUNTIF(C2:C10,">=10") - counts how many numbers greater than 5 and less than 10 are in the range C2:C10. This formula will return the same count as shown in the screenshot above.
- =COUNTIF(C2:C10, ">=5")-COUNTIF(C2:C10, ">10") - the formula counts how many numbers between 5 and 10 are in the range C2:C10, including 5 and 10.
How to use cell references in COUNTIFS formulas
When using logical operators such as ">", "<", "<=" or ">=" together with cell references in your Excel COUNTIFS formulas, remember to enclose the operator in "double quotes" and
add an ampersand (&) before a cell reference to construct a text string.
In a sample dataset below, let's count "Apples" orders with amount greater than $200. With criteria_range1 in cells A2:A11 and criteria_range2 in B2:B11, you can use this formula:
=COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$11, "Apples", $B$2:$B$11, ">200")
Or, you can input your criteria values in certain cells, say F1 and F2, and reference those cells in your formula:
=COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$11, $F$1, $B$2:$B$11, ">"&$F$2)
Please notice the use of absolute cell references both in the criteria and criteria_range arguments, which prevents the formula from being broken when copied to other cells.
For more information about the use of an ampersand in COUNTIF and COUNTIFS formulas, please see Excel COUNTIF - frequently asked questions.
How to use COUNTIFS with wildcard characters
In Excel COUNTIFS formulas, you can use the following wildcard characters:
- Question mark (?) - matches any single character, use it to count cells starting and/or ending with certain characters.
- Asterisk (*) - matches any sequence of characters, you use it to count cells containing a specified word or a character(s) as part of the cell's contents.
Tip. If you want to count cells with an actual question mark or asterisk, type a tilde (~) before an asterisk or question mark.
Now let's see how you can use a wildcard char in real-life COUNTIFS formulas in Excel. Suppose, you have a list of projects in column A. You wish to know how many projects are already assigned to someone, i.e. have any name in column B. And because we are learning how to use the COUNTIFS function with multiple criteria, let's add a second condition - the End Date in column D should also be set.
Here is the formula that works a treat:
=COUNTIFS(B2:B10,"*",D2:D10,"<>"&""))
Please note, you cannot use a wildcard character in the 2nd criteria because you have dates rather that text values in column D. That is why, you use the criteria that finds non-blank cells: "<>"&""
COUNTIFS and COUNTIF with multiple criteria for dates
The COUNTIFS and COUNTIF formulas you use for dates are very much similar to the above formulas for numbers.
Example 1. Count dates in a specific date range
To count the dates that fall in a certain date range, you can also use either a COUNTIFS formula with two criteria or a combination of two COUNTIF functions.
For example, the following formulas count the number of dates in cells C2 through C10 that fall between 1-Jun-2014 and 7-Jun-2014, inclusive:
=COUNTIFS(C2:C9, ">=6/1/2014", C2:C9, "<=6/7/2014")
=COUNTIF(C2:C9, ">=6/1/2014") - COUNTIF(C2:C9, ">6/7/2014")
Example 2. Count dates with multiple conditions
In the same manner, you can use a COUNTIFS formula to count the number of dates in different columns that meet 2 or more conditions. For instance, the below formula will find out how many products were purchased after the 20th of May and delivered after the 1st of June:
=COUNTIFS(C2:C9, ">5/1/2014", D2:D9, ">6/7/2014")
Example 3. Count dates with multiple conditions based on the current date
You can use Excel's TODAY() function in combination with COUNTIF to count dates based on the current date.
For example, the following COUNTIF formula with two ranges and two criteria will tell you how many products have already been purchased but not delivered yet.
=COUNTIFS(C2:C9, "<"&TODAY(), D2:D9, ">"&TODAY())
This formula allows for many possible variations. For instance, you can tweak it to count how many products were purchased more than a week ago and are not delivered yet:
=COUNTIFS(C2:C9, "<="&TODAY()-7, D2:D9, ">"&TODAY())
This is how you count cells with multiple criteria in Excel. I hope you will find these examples helpful. Anyway, I thank you for reading and hope to see you on our blog next week!
2035 comments
I am looking for a formula to help with headcounts on days of the week and between certain times.
I have 2 columns, one for days of the week and one for the time visited. I am looking to gather the information in a chart at the end of each month/qtr to look for the visit trends.
Example:
Mon 6pm
Mon 1145am
Tue 1pm
Wed 9am
Wed 8pm
Thu 945am
Thu 1215pm
Fri 10am
Sat 236pm
Sat 1130pm
Sun 4pm
Sun 6pm
And so on for a month. I need a count of all the Mon visits between 10a-1259pm, 1pm-359pm,4p-659pm, 7pm-959pm,10p-1259am and 1am-559am.
Any help would be appreciated!
hello, admin I've been following your tutorials since a month now could you help me on my problem please?, I want to count the number of minutes late of our employees, our official time is 7:00:00 AM, but i am looking everywhere for this formula but I couldn't find anywhere until I found this article of yours. I Think this is related on my problem.
Advance,
J.V.
Send me a sample please.
remindfwd[at]gmail[dot]com
replace "[AT]" and "[DOT]" with respective signs.
Perhaps you can use TIMEVALUE formula, but you haven't share any info in the comment.
Regards!
You can enter into cell D2 the value 7:00:00 AM.
In column A you have names
In column B times arivee :)
Your "table" have headers in A1, B1, C1...
In C column insert the formula below:
=IF(B2>$D$2,B2-$D$2,"")
In C column you MUST format cells CUSTOM... with h:mm:ss OR just mm:ss etc.
need help of the formula below
LOB NAME STATUS
AGL Apollo
AGL Jose Done
AGL Jane Done
SPT Anthony Done
SPT Gayna
SPT Eugene
SPT Florencio Done
=if(a:a=agl,count(c:c,"done"),"")
Assume that your table begin with A2....an so.
=IF($A$2:A8="AGL",COUNTIF($C$2:C8,"Done"),"").
A8/C8 is the last cell with value in the table. so you can change as you want.
OR this: =IF(A:A="AGL",COUNTIF(C:C,"Done"),"")
Was COUNTIF the formula you has to use.
I need a formula for tracking the amount of time spent working on tasks for a specific group. Its a rather large spreadsheet
Column K - either contains the letter Y or it's left blank. Y denotes it's for that specific group i now need to track
Column M - is the total amount of time spent on ALL groups tasks. Some are for future dates so the time value is 0.
so i need the sum of column M IF column K is Y.
are countifs my best option?
THANKS
Depends.
If you want to count just a row when Y is present, try this:
=IF(AND(K2="Y",M2>0),M2,"")
Please let me know if was helpful.
I have a problem that asks to count the number of
area codes in and state that is not 501,402,203. Lets say the state is NY (New York)
can I use the countifs?
this is what I did but I get a no value
=COUNTIFS(HOTEL_ST,"NY",Area Code,"501","","402,"","203")
Send me a sample please.
remind[at]gmail[dot]com
Your formula should work if you make small changes:
=COUNTIFS("HOTEL_ST","NY","Area Code","501","","402,"","203","")
explained very well, can understand very easily. thanks for the sharing and i appreciate your efforts,all the best .
I have been trying to use a countifs statement with dates and it does keeps giving me an error about it not reconizing it as a formula. I have a flat file of work request that have a requested date and a completion date, or blank for the completion date. I am trying to find at any given time how many were not completed that were requested, so the total open request. I used the following formula, request dates are in column B, and Completed is in C
=Countifs(B:B,=B1)
Any help would be greatly appreciated
=countifs(B:B,B1) is the real formula I am trying to use
Please send a link with your excel file (you have to upload it first anywhere you can).
Send me a sample> remindfwd[at]gmail[dot]com
Hi There,
I have the excel data that has the following information;
1. Name of the sales representative.
2. Name of the customer.
3. Status Code of the outlets i.e.(Active, New & Pending).
I would want to summarize the information for each sales representative by
- How many outlets have been assigned to him?
- How many are active?
- How many are new?
- How many are pending?
Which excel formula do you advice me to use?
Thanks - Sylvester.
Make n columns (number of customers...if it is possible) after column STATUS. Make another 3 columns with Active, New, Pending labels.
Every column has a formula:
=COUNTIF(B2,"NAME1")
=COUNTIF(B2,"NAME2")
=COUNTIF(B2,"NAME3")
...........
=COUNTIF(C2,"Active")
=COUNTIF(C2,"New")
=COUNTIF(C2,"Pending")
At base of columns insert SUM function.
Ok I can't seem to get a formula to count what I need. Anyone have any ideas?
Basically if the value in column E is 1 and the time in Column C is greater than 16:00 and less than 04:00 it would count
Try this.
=IF(AND(E2=1,OR(F2>=TIMEVALUE("04:00:00 PM"),F2<=TIMEVALUE("04:00:00 AM"))),1,0)
OR this :)
=COUNTIF(E2:F2,IF(AND(E2=1,OR(F2>=TIMEVALUE("04:00:00 PM"),F2<=TIMEVALUE("04:00:00 AM"))),1,""))
Hi. I have a need to count items in one column and multiply the qty from a different column. Example:
In column A: (Labeled display)
Sharp 70" Display
NEC 60" Display
Sharp 70" Display
Sharp 70" Display
NEC 60" Display
NEC 60" Display
In column B: (Labeled qty)
1
1
2
2
1
1
What I am trying to do is identify each unique item in column A and multiply it by the quantity that is listed next to it in column B
Not sure what formula to use
REPLACE " sign with ' sign (or other you want)
Make a column near "qty" column. Label "SHARP"
Insert formula =IF(A2="Sharp 70' Display",B2,"")
Make a column near "SHARP" column. Label "NEC"
Insert formula =IF(A2="NEC 60' Display",B2,"")
Make SUM at each column SHARP and NEC.
That is?
How to use Excel COUNTIFS and COUNTIF with multiple criteria on different locations in LAN network
Hi,
i am not able to count using conditions on Different locations, Two files are located on LAN But CountIFS giving ERROR As # Value!
Please Suggest.
Please be more specific. This are no sense.
Expedited Status
Y Approved
N Approved
Y Denied
Y Pended
N Other
N Pended
Y Referred
Y Approved
Y Denied
Count all instances where Expedited is Y and Approved, Denied, or Pended.
I can't figure out a way to do this with out doing a Countifs 3 times. Can you help?
Hello!
Try this:
Make a suplimentary column near column Status.
Use formula in each row (table is starting in A1 cell :) ):
=IF(AND(A2="Y",OR(B2="Approved",B2="Pended",B2="Denied")),1,"")
After that make SUM of column 3 (suplimentary): =SUM(C2:C10)
That is all you need!
It is helpful?
Hi,
Do you know any possibility to format range condidtion in e.g.: countif
following data are given
A1: 001
A2: 002
I'd linke to search for everything less than 2
but countif(value(A1:A2),"<=2") does not work
Any hint would be appreciated highly
Is your data stored as text?
Change to number format.
I have cell data like
(A ) (B)
44201612:33 L
442016 23:33 T
442016 17:33 D
552017 12:33 W
332016 01:33 E
And i have to count only 4-4-2016 date (T)data not with time pls any help thanks in advance
I have cell data like
(A ) (B)
4-4-201612:33 L
4-4-2016 23:33 T
4-4-2016 17:33 D
5-5-2017 12:33 W
3-3-2016 01:33 E
And i have to count only 4-4-2016 date (T)data not with time pls any help thanks in advance
how do I create a formula were age is compared to a range of potential age data which in turn provides a percentage outcome to apply?
age +range =%
=30 =40 =50 59 8.50% 14.500%
Hey!
Can I put multiple criteria for the same range or same criteria on multiple ranges/columns while applying Countifs?
Could you please help me with below problem with multiple criteria:
designation: supervisor, assistant, technician, helper
rating : a, b, c
want to calculate how many (supervisor+ technician) got A & B Rating
and how many got "C" rating.
Regards
Hi,
Could you please tell me how to give multiple conditions
student_no sub1 sub2 sub3
1 p p f
2 p ab f
for this scenario if i want to get details of the no. of subjects failed( which should include absent if any)of each student,
ie for student 2 i should get output as no. of subjects failed = 2, how should i give the condition